Loom shuttle



Apr 1931. R. H. MORE 1,800,652

LOOM SHUTTLE Filed D60. 11. 1929 Patented Ar, id, 1%

RAULSTON H. MORE, OF SUN BURY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR T SUSQUEHANNASILK MILLS, 0F SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LOOMSHUTTLE Application filed December 11, 1929. Serial No. 413,382.

This invention relates to loom shuttles and has for its principalobjects the provision of a new and improved form of thread block whichwill facilitate the delivery of thread a from the shuttle and avoid anypossibility of the yarn or thread becoming entangled as the result ofthe operations incident to the re placement of the bobbin.

A further object of the invention is the to provision of a thread blockwhich is so con structed as to prevent excessive wear of the componentparts thereof as the result of frictional resistance to the passage ofthe thread through the block.

115 It is customary to maintain a uniform tension on the thread duringdelivery thereof, this tension being usually obtained by providing meanswithin the thread block yieldingly held in frictional engagement withthe w thread. As will be readily understood, this means is worn or cutrapidly by the thread as the result of such frictional engagement, and:frequent replacement of such means with consequent expense and delay inthe operation of the loom is unavoidable. This is particularly true withthread guides of the conventional type in which it is found that thethread engages with a limited area only of the friction developingsurface of the tensioning device and forms a well defined cut or groovetherein which lessens the efliciency of the device and results in damageto the thread.

In order to avoid such excessive wear of this portion of the threadblock, the present invention contemplates such alteration of theexisting types of blocks as will ensure the engagement of the threadover a considerable area of the tensioning device by providin for thecontinual shifting of the position 0 the thread as it passes across thefriction developing surface of the device. The life of the device inquestion is thereby considerably prolonged, and the formation of groovesand cuts therein which may wear and fray the thread is thus avoided.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tensioning devicewhich is somewhat loosely su ported in the thread block and to materia yreduce the wear on the supporting parts of the block due to movement ofthe device therein during the feeding of the thread.

A still further object is the provision of a novel and simple means foraccurately adjusting the tension of the thread durin feeding thereof,and which may be readi y and securely locked in position after theproper adjustment has been effected.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l'is a plan view of the thread delivery end of a loom shuttlewith a thread block embodying the principles of the present invention inposition therein;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure t is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one element of a threadtensioning device for use in the thread block.

Referring to the details of the drawing which serve to illustrate oneembodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that the usualshuttle body having a tip 12, a thread depression 13, and a bobbinopening 14 carries a thread block 15 adjacent the thread delivery endthereof. The thread block 15 may be positioned in the shuttle body inany convenient way, for instance, by means of a pin 17 formed integrallywith the block and seating in an aperture in the body. A bolt 16 passingthrough the body and block may be provided to retain the block securelyin position, the particular method of securing the block in placeconstituting no part of the present invention.

llhe thread block is constructed for the most part in the conventionalmanner, and it will be understood that the thread on leaving the bobbin20 is guided through the eye 21 in the entrance portion 24 of the threadblock 15, is frictionally retarded by the tenaioning device 22, andpasses out at the de- 1% gularly livery opening 23 defined by the wearpiece 25 and the horn 26.

The tensioning device, which is positioned at the extreme rear end ofthe block for a purpose to be hereinafter described, consists of a pairof oppositely positioned elements 30 having fiat facing surfaces 31adapted to frictionally engage the thread which passes therebetween. Apin 33, extending transversely of the thread block and through the ears32 of the elements 30, serves to retain the latter in position in theblock and permits movement of the elements toward and away from eachother. A wing 36, provided at the upper end of each element 30, projectsinto a corresponding recess 38 in the thread block and has a loose fittherein to afford freedom of movement in some degree to the element.

Tensioning devices of this character, similar to that so far described,have been used heretofore, but it is found that the vibration which themovement of thethread impart-s to the elements 30 causes excessive wearof the walls of the recess 38, since the thread block is normally madeof brass or other relatively soft metal. The present'inventioncontemplates the substantial elimination of this undue wear by theprovision of a steel liner or bushing 39 in each such recess, this linerconforming closely to the walls of the recess and being preferablysecured thereto, for instance by brazing.

The means foreifecting adjustment of the elements 30 to increase ordecrease the tension of the thread will now be described with particularreference to Fig. 4 of the drawing. It willbe observed that the oppositesides of the thread block 15 are provide with threaded apertures 40,each aperture receiving a corresponding set screw 41 having a slottedhead 43 to facilitate turning thereof. The inner-end of each set screw41 is preferably recessed as at 45 to receive a headed pin 48 and aspring 49, the latter serving to urge the pin against the correspondingelement 30.

By adjusting the set screws 43, the tension of the springs 49 may beincreased or decreased, and-the degree of frictional engagement betweenthe elements 30 and the thread may be correspondingly regulated withprecision. Each set screw 43 is provided with a lock nut 51 which may betightened to retain the set screw in position after the adjustment hasbeen effected.

On referring to Figure 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that theelements 30 are ansupported in the thread block as regards the directionof their length with respect to the direction of movement of the thread,theleading edges of these elements being inclined rearwardly of theblock from the lower to the winged portion thereof. The object of soinclining these catches in the tensioning loose end of the thread mayelements 30 is to promote a vibratory movement of the thread during itspassage through the tensioning device, it being found that the thread isthus caused to move rapidly up and down, thereby distributing the wearover a considerable portion of the engaging surface of the elements '30.The tendency ofthe thread to shift its position in the tensioning deviceis further increased by positioning the device to the extreme rear ofthe thread block 15 adjacent the eye 21. The thread leaves the bobbinfrom the upper and lower sides thereof in succession during theoperation of unwinding, and it will be readily appreciated that theangular movement in a vertical plane of that portion of the threadbetween the bobbin and the tensioning device will be greater as thedistance between the bobbin and the tensioning device is lessened withthe result that in the construction described herein a substantialvertical movement is imparted to the thread as it passes through'thetensioning device.

It is a common expedient to provide means for automatically replacing anunwound bobbin with a fresh bobbin without interrupting the operation ofthe shuttle, the old bobbin being thrust downwardly and a new oneinserted in a manner which is well known in the art, the specific meansfor effecting this change forming no part of the present invention. Theloose end of the thread has a tendency to curl and frequently tanglesand device, particularly when crepe thread is being used. These looseends are then broken off and carried into the fabric with the threadfrom the new bobbin with resulting impairment of the unid formity of theproduct. This defect is overcome in the present construction byproviding for the release of the loose end of the thread from thetensioning device.

For thispurpose the entrance portion is slotted below the eye 21 asshown at 60, one end of this slot communicating with the eye and theother end being open, so that the fall downwardly through the slot. Byreferring to Figures 3 and 5 of the drawing, it will be noted that theear 32 of each element 30 is depressed slightly with respect to thethread engaging face of the element so as to permit the thread to passthrough the gap thus provided between the ears 32, the pin 33, and thebody portions of the elements 30. It will thus be apparent that theloose end ofthe thread may fall into this gap and be entirely free fromthe action of the tensioning device, thereby avoiding any possibility ofentanglement and breakage of the thread. .The dropping of the loose endof the thread is facilitated to some extent by the above mentionedoperation of automatically replacing the bob bin, the downward thrust ofthe old bobbin assisting in carrying the thread through the slot 60 andbeneath the thread engaging surfaces of the tension member, The pin 17is preferably provided with a hardened wear plate over which the threadmay be carried during normal operation of the shuttle and while theloose end of the thread is being withdrawn.

It will be appreciated that the thread block disclosed herein offersdistinct advantages over thread blocks heretofore used, particu larlywith regard to the length of life of the component parts thereof and thefreedom with which the thread may pass through and be released from theblock. These advantages are obtained by the application of theprinciples of the present invention and are not limited to the detailsof construction described and illustrated herein, it being understoodthat such modifications thereof are contemplated as fall within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loom shuttle, the combination with a thread block, of anon-rotatable thread tensioning device of the clamp type carried by saidblock for frictionally engaging the thread, the forward edge of saidtensioning device being disposed at an acute angle with respect to thegeneral direction in which the thread passes therethrough.

2. In a loom shuttle, the combination with a thread block, of anon-rotatable thread tensioning device of the clamp type carried by saidblock, said device including a pair of elements having opposed flatsurfaces for frictionally engaging the thread therebetween, saidelements being disposed transversely of the thread and being inclined inthe direction of movement thereof. whereby acontinual vibratory movementof the thread across the flat surfaces of the elements is promoted. a

3. In a loom shuttle aving abobbin, the combination with a thread block,of a thread tensioning device mounted in said block and comprising apair of elements having opposed faces adapted to frictionally engage thethread therebetween, said elements having spaced portions adjacent theirlower ends so as to permit the thread to pass freely between the same,the thread being unsupported forwardly of the space so formed and in thedi rection of the bobbin recess, whereby the loose end of the threadfrom an exhausted bobbin on leaving the shuttle will be drawn frombetween said opposed faces and pass out freely.

4. In a loom shuttle having a bobbin, the

combination with a thread block, of a thread a tensioning devicecomprising a pair of elements yieldingly urged together and providedwith opposed faces for frictionally engaging the thread therebetween,said elements being supported in said block at their lower ends andhaving spaced portions adjacent their point of support to permit thethread to pass freely between the same, the thread being unsupportedbetween the bobbin recess and the space so formed whereby the loose endof the thread from an exhausted bobbin on leaving the shuttle will bedrawn from between said opposed faces and pass out freel 5. In a loomshuttle having a bobbin, the combination with a thread block, of athread tensioning device comprising a palr of elements yieldingly urgedtogether and provided with opposed faces for frictlonally engaging thethread therebetween, sald elements being provided adjacent thelrlowerends with ears disposed outwardly of the opposed faces to provideaspace therebetween, the thread being unsupported between the space soformed and the bobbin recess and a pin supported in said thread body andpassing through said ears whereby the loose end of the. thread will bedrawn between said ears and pull out freely over said pin.

6. In a loom shuttle having a bobbin, the combination with a threadblock, of a thread tensioning device mounted in said block andcomprising a pair of elements having opposed faces adapted tofrictionally engage the thread therebetween, said elements having spacedport-ions adjacent their lower ends so as to permit the thread to passfreely between the same, said thread block being provided with anentrance portion having an ear through which the thread may pass, a slotabove said ear for the introduction of the thread, and a slot below saidear to permitthe thread to pass from said entrance portlon, whereby theloose end of the thread on leaving the unwound bobbin will fall fromsaid ear and from between said opposed tensioning faces and be drawn outfreely.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

RAULSTON H. MORE.

